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Killer of Miami’s Jasper Howard Sentenced To 18 Years

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VERNON, Conn. (CBS) — The killer of Jasper Howard, the University of Connecticut football player from Miami who was murdered in 2009 during a party, has been sentenced to 18 years in a Connecticut court.

Jasper Howard, who was 20 at the time, was stabbed in the abdomen during an on-campus fight in 2009 following a homecoming game win.

John Lomax III, of Bloomfield, was convicted of stabbing Howard, a defensive back, during a fight between a group of football players and a group that included Lomax, authorities said.

Lomax, 22, had been charged with murder, but pleaded no contest to first-degree manslaughter in January.

Howard, a Miami native whose nickname was “Jazz,” died at a hospital from a single wound to his abdomen just hours after helping the Huskies to a homecoming game win over Louisville.

Police say the Oct. 18, 2009, argument occurred after someone pulled a fire alarm inside the Student Union, and as people were leaving the building where many had gathered for a school-sponsored dance.

U-Conn football player Michael Smith told police that Howard ran across the street yelling “They got me!” before collapsing.

Johnny Hood, 23, told police that he got into an argument with two men later identified as football players Brian Parker and A.J. Portee, after Parker made disparaging comments about a woman.

According to an affidavit witnesses told police that the two groups confronted one another outside the Student Union and punches were thrown.

Lomax and Hood claimed football players took swings at them. Parker suffered a minor stab wound in the back during the melee.

Several football players, including Howard, walked to a spot near U-Conn’s basketball arena, while Lomax and another man went back to their car and armed themselves, police said.

Another fight involving several people broke out several minutes later in front of the arena. Witnesses said Howard swung his fist at Lomax and Lomax countered by slashing Howard.

Hood is charged with breach of peace and interfering with police. The cases against him and six others charged in the case are still pending.